"I ride with Dame" - Giannis Antetokounmpo on his faith in fellow superstar Damian Lillard
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Time and time again, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has proven he’s all about family and loyalty. He embraces those around him, especially those he goes to battle with nightly. And even though fellow superstar Damian Lillard has only been around him a few months since the blockbuster trade that brought him to Milwaukee from Portland, Antetokounmpo is beginning to form a strong bond with his new teammate.
In an interview with The Athletic, Antetokounmpo couldn’t help but express his admiration and faith in the man known as “Dame Time.”
Dame’s biggest fan
Although Giannis and Lillard have put up outstanding numbers this season, their on-court relationship remains a work in progress. The Bucks should be much better than their 35-21 record. However, the constant personnel changes have kept the Bucks from getting into a rhythm all season. Nevertheless, Antetokounmpo asserted he had all the faith in Dame to help steer the Bucks back to the promised land.
“I am his biggest fan,” Giannis said.
“Good or bad, I ride with Dame until the f—ing end. I ride with Dame. Like I’ve been saying this over and over again. This. Is. His. Team. Down the stretch, he’s going to get the ball. There’s nothing else that we will do. I don’t know how else to put it. I don’t know what else to say. But at the end of the day, he has to believe it too.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo showed up to support Damian Lillard in the NBA 3-point contest 🔥
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 18, 2024
(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/OeKXHLxSOj
Dame’s struggles
Lillard is averaging 24.6 points and 6.7 assists per game this season but has struggled to shoot efficiently. He’s only making 42 percent of his shots, including 34 percent from long-range. His last 12 games, though, have been brutal. Dame is shooting only 39 percent in that stretch and has struggled to make the long ball, shitting29 percent from beyond the arc in those 12 matches.
Lillard is coming off a spectacular All-Star weekend wherein he defended his Three-Point Contest crown and won the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award. Those triumphs could spark his confidence and get him back to his usual dominant self on the court.
DAME TIME. ⌚️
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2024
In his first time as a starter, Lillard lifts the Kobe Bryant Trophy as the 2024 #KiaAllStarMVP!
🌟 39 PTS
🌟 11 3PM
🌟 6 AST
🌟 East W pic.twitter.com/3gkividrdx